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QB QUESTIONS WITH BOB SANSEVERE

Pioneer Press

Posted:
10/08/2009 12:01:00 AM CDT

When Glenn Caruso left his head coaching position at Macalester College to become the football coach at the University of St. Thomas, he took over a program that was coming off a 2-8 season. In just his second season at St. Thomas, Caruso has the Tommies at 4-0 overall, 3-0 in the MIAC, and ranked 15th in the nation in NCAA Division III. The Tommies have scored 27 touchdowns in four games — the second-most TDs in Division III. I talked to Caruso about the turnaround.

BS: You're 4-0 and winning by an average score of 47-13. Are you as much of a powerhouse as that average score suggests?

GC: Probably not. (Laughs.) I'm being honest with you. I think we work real hard. We're a good football team that has some potential and is reaching that potential now. We are 4-0, and that's what matters to us. As always, we have to keep progressing.

BS: Are you good enough to win the MIAC and play for the national title?

GC: I don't know about the second part. We're trying to compete at the national level. In order to do that, we have to handle our conference. We're putting ourselves in a position where we're going to be able to fight for the conference championship in the coming weeks.

BS: You play Concordia-Moorhead on Saturday and face the MIAC's only other unbeaten team, St. John's, a week from Saturday. Do you have to remind your team not to look past Concordia?

GC: No. And that's one benefit of playing Concordia this week. You don't ever have to remind anyone to remember you're playing Concordia.

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We have a ton of respect for Concordia. It's nearly impossible to overlook a Concordia-Moorhead and look ahead. It will not be a yawner in the third quarter. Concordia will never be a yawner in the third quarter.

BS: What's still missing from your team?

GC: I guess I have no major concerns. I just want to make sure we keep progressing in a positive manner. We have selfless kids who have bought into the team. I love that. That quote, "Bring your lunch pail to work" is something we work to foster.

BS: Have you turned things around faster than you thought?

GC: As far as the intangible successes, I think we are ahead of schedule. As far as the tangibles, the record, we're probably farther ahead than people thought. We are right on track with the attitude, the effort, the mental toughness, all those intangibles that will make us a sustainable program for years to come. Two years ago, I said there would be a time when winning and success are synonymous at St. Thomas. We're not there yet. But we're coming to a spot where that is becoming more of a reality.

BS: There are some very good schools in the MIAC. What's your big pitch when you talk to a kid about playing for St. Thomas instead of one of the other MIAC schools?

GC: First of all, we don't talk about other schools. We just talk about the good things about St. Thomas. It's fairly easy to sell the school. It's a tremendous education, and the location is second to none. When you have 88 of the state's top 100 businesses within 15 miles of our campus, the intern possibilities are incredible. That's a huge one for us — our location. Moreover, we talk about balancing education in the classroom with the education you will get on the field.

BS: Have you turned 35 yet?

GC: I have. I'm 35. My car insurance went down last May.

BS: Do you realize your St. John's counterpart, John Gagliardi, has been coaching 61 seasons — more than a quarter-century longer than you've been alive?

GC: I really haven't done the math, I guess. That is an amazing statistic — his longevity. I think 61 years from now I'll be six feet under. Don't count on me roaming the sidelines.

BS: It took just a couple of seasons for you to turn around the football program at Macalester. Are you at St. Thomas for the long haul, or will you listen to offers, which are likely to come with the reputation you're building for turning around programs?

GC: I am absolutely in love with the program and what we have going on here. I've said it before and will continue to say it: This is a place I can see myself staying for a very, very long time. I cannot be happier than being a head coach at St. Thomas. I would like to be an institution at this institution.

BS: There's another 4-0 football team in the area. Any advice for the Vikings?

GC: Keep doing what you're doing. They're on a hot streak, and it's exciting just to see them. My only advice: Keep scoring points and don't let anybody score points.